Young entrepreneurs set to raise funds

The team of Generation Innovation champions who will act as local ambassadors to promote the GI Challenge, including founder of Tyranus Apparel, Charlie Mackay, second from the right. Photo ContributedContributed

ITCHING to get started on their new businesses, aspiring young entrepreneurs in Generation Innovation's GI Challenge will this week finalise their crowdfunding targets and start raising the capital they need to turn their business idea into a reality.

Four groups of people between the age of 15 and 25 have been shortlisted from an original cohort of eight teams that started the challenge in March.

Their business ideas have grown from concepts to structured, realistic and collaborative projects, said Generation Innovation founder Ted O'Brien.

"The program has exceeded my expectations in terms of both the enthusiasm and level of commitment from the young people, but also the mentors," he said.

He said the youngsters had worked closely with experienced mentors for every step.

"Some of the participants had the competence of people twice or three times their age," he said.